Circuit-breaking mechanism



Sept. 3, 1929. E. H. REMDE CIRCUIT BREAKING MECHANISM Original FiledDec. 12, 1921 3 sh t -sh t Sept. 3, 1929. E. H. REMDE 1,726,717

' CIRCUIT BREAKING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 12. 1921 3 sheets sheet2 EZ' Q I Sept. 3, 1929. REMDE 1,726,717

CIRCUIT BREAKING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 12. 192] 3 She ts-Sheet 5Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H. REMDE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BAKER-RAULANG COM-PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CIRCUIT-BREAKING MECHANISM.

Original application filed December 12, 1921, Serial No. 523,286.Divided and this application filed January 5, 1923.

This invention relates to a circuit breaking mechanism, wherein anelement, which is moved by a motor or otherwise, operates to break theelectric circuit to the motor. lVhile the invention is applicable tocutoff the power to motors other than of the electric type, I have inthe preferred form of the invention disclosed it for the purpose ofbreaking an electric circuit leading to an electric motor.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown as applied to anelevating platform type of truck wherein the platform is raised bymechanism driven or operated by an electric motor, the cut-out mechanismbeing connected with the platform and operated thereby when it reachesor approaches its limit of movement in either direction. It will,however, be understood that the invention may be otherwise applied,examples of which are disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No.513,394, filed November 7, 1921.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved cut-out mechanismof simple construction.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved cut-outmechanism in which the contact elements cooperate to make and break thecircuit relatively quickly.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation (partly broken away) of anelevating platform truck having a cut-out mechanism embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figs. 1 and 4, the elements shownbeing in neutral position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the elements shown in Fig.2 on the line 33 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figs. 2 and 5.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 4, but showing the elements in oneoperated position.

Serial No. 610,791.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the elements in operatedpositionsone position in full lines and the other position in dottedlines.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates as an entirety a truck. 2indicates the truck frame comprising a section 3, which preferablycarries the electric battery or batteries 4, and a section 5, which isrelatively low and is adapted to support the elevating platform 6 and,by preference, the mechanism 7 and an electric motor 8 for raising andlowering the said platform. 8 indicates a lever which operates acontroller (not shown) for controlling the electric circuit to the motor8, to drive it in opposite directions. 9, 10, indicate the pairs ofwheels on which the frame 2 is mounted. The wheels 9, 10, or either pairthereof, may be steerable, the operating connections 11, therefor, beingactuated by a suitable hand operated devic'efor example, a lever 12. 13indicates an electric motor for driving the wheels 9. 14 indicates alever which operates a controller (suitably mountedin a casing 15) forcontrolling the electric circuit to the motor 13. 16 is a brake pedalfor operating a brake mechanism 16 It will be understood that thecurrent for the motors 8 and 13 is supplied by the bat tery or batteries4.

17 indicates a link pivoted at 18, to the platform 6 or the raising andlowering mechanism 7 therefor, at one end, and at its opposite end,pivoted at 19 to an arm 20, which forms one element of the limitingmeans or cut-out mechanism, indicated as an entirety at 21, which isadapted to break the electric circuit to the motor 8 as the platform 6approaches the end of its movement upwardly or downwardly accordingly asthe motor 8 is operated to move it. The arm 20 is pivoted on a studshaft 22 mounted, in an angle plate 23, seated on and secured in anywell known way to the L-frame 5, which forms a part of the frame section5. 24 indicates a base plate secured in any suitable manner to the plate23, as by bolts 25. 26 indicates a cover or casing engaging the plate 24near its side-edges and secured thereto, preferably by the bolts 25 andseparate bolts 27.

The casing 26 is arranged to enclose certain of the elements of thecutout mechanism to be presently referred to. 28 indicates a rock shaftextending through a tubular boss 29, preferably formed integral with theplate 24. The shaft 28 is preferably mounted in. a sleeve bearing 30,supported in the boss 29. At its inner end, the rock shaft 28 carries anarm 31, which will be later described. At its outer end, the rock shaftcarries a yoke or U-shaped member 32, the legs 32*, 32 of which aredisposed upon opposite sides of and in the path of movement of a device33 projecting laterally from the arm 20. The device 33 preferablycomprises a pin or bolt 34 carrying a roller 35 which makes engagementwith the legs 32*, 32 and through such engagement serves to swing theyoke (see Fig. 7) and through it to rock the shaft 28 in one directionor the other. The bplt 34 is secured in an. opening formed in the arm 20by a nut 34*. 32' indicates inserts preferably formed of steel or othersuitable material and secured to the legs 32 32 in position to beengaged by the roller 35'. In the operation of the arm20 about itspivot,'the roller 35 will engage one of the legs of the yoke 32 andswing it laterally until the adjacent leg is positioned beyond thecircular path described by the roller 35, the legs being so disposed andspaced that when either is moved this distance the cut-out mechanismwill operate and break the circuit to the motor, in the mannerhereinafter set forth. If however, due to inertia of the armature shaft,the platform and other elements connected to it, the arm 20 is carriedabout its pivot a greater distance than that necessary to operate thecut-out mechanism, the roller 35 will simply ride on the'adjacent insertand impart but slight further movement to the rock shaft 28.

36 indicates a sprin coiled around the rock shaft 28 or by pre erencethe inner hub portion of the arm 31, as shown in Fig. 2. The oppositeends 36 36", of the spring 36 are crossed and disposed on the oppositesides of a pair of lugs 37, 38, disposedone above the other when the arm31 is in normal position, the former being provided on the inner side ofthe arm 31 and the latter being provided on the inner face of the baseplate 24. As a result of this construction, it will be understood thatmovement of the arm 31in either direction will separate the arms mean?contacts 39, 39*, preferably comprises a pair of spaced plates arrangedto receive between them a switch blade 40. 41, 41 indicate a pair ofstud shafts extending through openings (but insulated from the wallsthereof) formed in the base plate 24 and secured therein by nuts 42engaging the opposite faces of the plate. The shafts 41, 41, areconnected, preferably on the outer side of the base plate 24, by a plate41", which is provided with a connector 41 for a feed wire 43. 44, 44*,indicate levers pivotally mounted on the shafts 41, 41 Correspondingarms 44, 44*, of the levers 44, 44, engage cams 45, 45 respectively,carried by the free end of the arm 31, while the opposite correspondingarms of the levers engage the switch blades 40 to swing them into andout of engagement with the contact plates of the contacts 39, 39,respectively, as will later be set forth. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, thecams are oppositely disposed so as to swing one of the levers 44, 44*,about the adjacent shaft when the arm 31 is moved in one direction andto swing the other lever about its shaft when the arm 31 is moved in theopposite direction. The levers 44, 44, are provided with lugs 46 andthese lugs are preferably connected together by a coiled spring 47 whichtends to swing them about their axes in the direction to maintain thelever arms 44, 44 in engagement with the cams 45, 45 The switch blades40 are preferably pivotally mounted on the stud shafts 41, 41 and aremoved thereabout by the adjacent arms of the levers 44,443. each beingpreferably operatively connected, by devices indicated as an entirety at48, to the adjacent lever arm in a manner which permits a snap action inmaking and breaking the circuits through the contacts 39, 39*. Of thedevices 48, 49 indicates a member integrally connected to the hub of theadjacent lever 44, or 44 and depending therefrom at one side of theadjacent switch blade 40, 50, 51, indicate a pair of lugs projectinglaterally from-the member 49 across the path of movement the adjacentswitch blade 40 and spaced from each other a distance greater than thewidth of said blade. 52 indicates a spring, one end 53 thereof beingbent or hooked around the outer side of the blade 40 and its other andextending around the hub of the lever and disposed behind a lug 54preferably provided on the arm 46. In operation, the cam 45 will movethe lever 44, which in turn will move the member 49 and arm 46, themovement of the former acting to put the spring 52 under tension. As thelever 44 approaches the limit of itsupward movement, as it rides theadjacent cam 45, the lug 50 engages the edge of the blade 40 and movesthe latter with it. As soon as the blade swings far enough to permit thespring 52 to overcome the friction between the blade and the contactplates 39, the spring will operate the blade with a quick movement tothe position shown in Fig. 6, against the lug 51.

Fig.4 shows the elements of the cut-out mechanism in mid-position andarranged to transmit current to the terminals on the motor to drive itin one direction or the other accordingly as the operating device 8isoperated to raise or lower the platform. Fig. 1 shows the platformmoving upwardly and nearing its extreme upper position.

In approaching this position, the roller on the arm 20 engages the leg32 and swings it to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7, therebyswinging the arm 31 laterally and breaking the circuit throu h theswitch blade and contacts 39, as s own in Fig. 6, thus stopping themotor. If the platform 6 moves downwardly, the link 17 will move the arm20 in the opposite direction and as the platform 6 approaches the limitof its downward movement, the arm 20 through the roller 35-will swingthe yoke 32 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, therebyswinging the arm 31 and breaking the circuit through the switch blade 40and contacts 39, thus stopping the motor.

It will be noted that arm 3l carries two cams 45,45, so disposed andarranged that only one lever is operated when the arm 31 swingslaterally in either direction. Accordingly, the breaking of one circuitto stop the operation of motor 8 in one direction, does not affect theother circuit for operating the motor in the opposite direction.

It will also be noted that after one circuit has been broken to stop themotor 8 and following the operation of the motor in the oppositedirection and movement of the platform 6 accordingly, the arm 20 willmove toward its mid-position. As the arm 20 so moves, the spring 36 willact on the arm 31 and swing it and the yoke 32 to'normal position. Thearm 31 will .in turn permit the adjacent lever 44 or 44* to swingbackwardly and such lever acting through the lug 51, will move theadjacent switch blade 40 into engagement with the adjacent contacts. Dueto the shape of the cams 45, 45, this reengagement will be effectedrelatively quick.

The link 17 or its connection with the platform 6 and arm 20, at eitheror both ends may be made adjustable in order to vary the engagement ofthe roller 35' with the legs 32, 32". As shown in Fig. 7 the link 17 isprovided at 17 with screw threads, such screw threaded end fitting ascrew threaded opening in a connecting device 17 and permittingadjustment for the purpose just referred to.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided arelatively simple form of construction which is capable of being readilypositioned for connection with and operation by a movable element toautomatically stop it when approaching its limit of movement.

The provision of such mechanism on a truck, such as shown herein forillustrative purposes, enables the operative to control the platformwith great facility, as he is only called upon to start the motor 8 ineither direction, the cut-out mechanism serving to stop the motor at thedesired point.

To those skilled in the art of making apparatus of the class described,many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of my inven tion will suggest themselves, without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the descriptionherein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any senselimiting.

This application is a division of my appli cation Serial No. 523,286,filed December 12, 1921.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofleads, a normally closed switch interposed in each lead, devices foroperating the movable member of each said switch, said devices operatingsaid movable switch member in one direction with a snap action andserving to positively move it in the opposite direction, means betweensaid devices tending to maintain them in normal position, and meanscommon to said operating devices for both switches and arranged toactuate the devices for either switch.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofleads, a switch interposed in each lead, devices for operating themovable member of each said switch, said devices operating said movableswitch member in one direction with a snap action and serving topositively move it in the opposite direction, means common to saidoperating devices for actuating them, and means tendingto return saidactuating means to normal position.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said actuating meanscomprises an a rm swingable relative to said devices and cams on saidarm each arranged to actuate the devices for operating one movableswitch member independently of the other movable switch member.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, arock shaft mounted thereon, an arm carried by said rock shaft, a pair ofstud shafts mounted on said support and connected to a source of currentsupply, a pair of contacts, sets of switch devices each having a contactmember pivotally mounted on one of said stud shafts and arranged toengage and disengage one of said contacts, devices movably mounted oiisaid stud shafts and each operatively connected with one of said contactmembers, means for operating said rock shaft, and means carried by saidarm for operating either of said devices.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the means for operatingsaid devices is arranged to move either one thereof without affectingthe other device.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, anarm pivoted on said support, a pair of stud shafts mounted on saidsupport and connected to a source of current supply, a pair of contacts,sets of switch devices mounted on said stud shafts each comprisin acontact member arranged to engage and isengage one of said contacts,

a lever and a spring between said lever and contact member arranged tobe put under tension and cause relatively quick movement of the latter,means for operating said arm,

and means carried by said arm for operating either of said levers.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofrelatively movable members, a circuit making and breaking mechanismcarried by one of said members, said mechanism including switch devicesthrough which the circuits for the driving means are completed to causerelative movement between members in opposite directions and an elementfor operating said switch devices, a connection between said othermember and said operating element, whereby one of said switch devices isoperated when relative movement between said members is effected ineither direction, and a spring arranged to be put under tension whensaid operating element is moved.

8. In apparatusbf the class described, the combination of a pair ofleads for electric circuits, a make and break mechanism interposed ineach said lead and normally closed to complete the circuit therethrough,each said mechanism comprising astationary contact and a pair ofrelatively movable members one of which is arranged to engage anddisengage said contact, devices between said members for controllingandlimiting their relative movement, said devices including a springwhich is put under tension by the relative movement of said members toeffect snap action of the movable member, and means common to saidmechanisms for operating one of them when ,moved in either direction. I

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofleads for electric circuits, a make and break mechanism interposed ineach lead, each said mechanism comprising a stationary contact, a pairof relatively movable members one of which is arranged to engage anddisengage said stationary contact and devices between said members tocontrol their relative movement,

said devices including a spring which is put under tension by therelative movement of said members to effect snap action of the movablemember and means common to said mechanisms and movable in eitherdirection and arranged to engage the other member of the pair of membersto eflect disengagement of the first mentioned member of the pair fromthe adjacent contact.

10. In apparatus ofthe class described, the combination of a pair ofleads for electric circuits, a make and break mechanism interposed ineachlead, each said mechanism comprising a stationary contact, a pair ofmembers mounted to swing about a common pivot relatively to each other,one of said members being arranged to engage and disengage saidstationary contact and devices between said members to control theirrelative movement, and means common to said mechanisms and movable ineither di rection and arranged to engage the other member of the pair ofmembers to effect disengagement of the first mentioned member of thepair from the adjacent contact.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofleads for electric circuits, a make and break mechanism interposed ineach said lead and normally closed to complete the circuit therethrough,each said mechanism comprising a contact and a pair of relativelymovable members one of which is arranged to engage and disengage saidcontact, devices between said members for controlling and efiectingmovement of the last mentioned member in opposite directions to effectengagement and disengagement with said contact, means common to saidmechanisms for operating the pair of relatively movable members of onethereof in one direction when moved in either direction, and separatemeans for moving each pair of relatively movable members in the oppositedirection.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the separate movingmeans are common to said pairs of relatively movable members.

13. An apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofleads for electric circuits, a make and break mechanism interposed inone of said leads, said mechanism comprising a stationary contact and apair of members mounted to swing about a common pivot relatively to eachother, one of said member's being arranged to engage and disengage saidcontact, devices between said members for controlling their relativemovement, and means for operating said mechanism when moved in eitherdirection.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofleads for electric circuits, a make and break mechanism interposed inone of said leads and normally closed to complete the circuittherethrough,

said mechanism comprising a stationary contact, a pair of relativelymovable members one of which is arranged to engage and disengage saidstationary contact and devices between said members to control theirrelative movement, said devices including a spring which is put' undertension by the relative movement of said members to effect snap actionof the movable member, and means for operating said mechanism arrangedto engage theother member of the pair of members to eflect disengagementof the first mentioned member of the pair from the adjacent contact I15. In apparatus of theclass described, the combination of a lead for anelectric circuit, a make and break mechanism interposed in said1ead,'said mechanism comprising a stationary contact, a pair of membersmounted to swing about a common pivot relatively to each other, one ofsaid members being arranged to engage and disengage said stationarycontact and devices between said members to control their relativemovement, said devices including a spring which is put under tension bythe relative movement of said members to effect snap action of themovable member, and means for operating said mechanism arranged toengage the other member of the pairof members to effect disengagement ofthe first mentioned member of the pair from the adjacent contact.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' EDWARD H. REMDE.

